Railless refrigerator display door

Abstract

A railless refrigerator display door constructed with two or more glass panels and having a peripheral door frame extending around the sides of The door and at the inside of the door without covering the outside glass surface of the door. Sealant is used to bond the glass panels to peripheral spacers separating the panels and to C-section structures which extend peripherally around the sides of the door. The door frame is also bonded to the C-section structures and glass panels by the sealant. Rubber bumpers attached to the C-section structures reduce heat transfer from the inside glass panel to the outside glass panel. As such, mechanical fasteners such as nuts, bolts or screws are not needed for the purpose of holding the refrigerator door together.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 07/585,602, filed Sep. 20, 1990, on an inwardly facing portion, which may as shown in FIG. 8, include undulating surfaces 76a and 78a, respectively. Also, C-section structures 74 are used with this embodiment instead of the pipe-like structures 34 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Sealant 32 is used to bond together panels 14, 22 and 24, spacers 26, door frame 72 and the C-section structures 74. Note that extensions 76 and 78 of door frame 72 extend well into the sealant 32, helping to securely bond the frame 72 to the other parts of the embodiment. As such, this eliminates the need to use extensions 52 which snap into slots 54 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, the C-section structures 74 include an inwardly facing portion 75 having a pair of side portions 77. The C-section structures 74 also include a pair of panel-facing convergent portions 79 which at least partly face an adjacent panel. The convergent portions define a generally cylindrical torque or hinge rod receiving portion therebetween. The inwardly facing portion 75 and the convergent portions 79 may include undulating surfaces 75a and 79a, respectively.

The C-section structures 74 are preferably extrusions made out of metal such as aluminum. However, any other metal or suitable material may be used instead of aluminum like reinforced resin such as fiberglass, or the like. Also, structures 74 may be protrusions, or molded, cast, machined, or otherwise fabricated. Rubber or plastic such as neoprene or vinyl bumpers 80 are attached to grooves 81 which are formed in the C-section structures 74 via each bumper's mounting portion, or extension 83. The bumpers 80 preferably are elongated running the length of the structures 74. The bumpers 80 reduce heat transfer from inside panel 24 to outside panel 14, provide cushioning between the C-section structures 74 and the panels.

Door frames 42 and 72 may be made out of any suitable material such as metal, fiberglass, plastic, or the like. Preferably, material with a clear base resin, such as Keysor #1101-005 vinyl, sold by Keysor Corporation, is used for the door frames. Flexible extensions 82, 84 and 86 are thermally fused to door frame 72 using a dual durometer extrusion process and are used to cushion or seat the frame against peripheral edges 56 and 58 of panels 14 and 24, respectively, and inside surface 44 of panel 24. Preferably, a thermal plastic elastomeric material with a PVC Shore A 35-60 hardness is used for extensions 82, 84 and 86. However, any suitable plastic or other flexible (elastomeric) material may be used.

The above description discloses the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art are capable of numerous modifications once taught these principles. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A railless refrigerator display door comprising:

an outside glass panel and an inside glass panel;

a hollow spacer disposed between said glass panels, said spacer extending peripherally adjacent peripheral edges of said panels;

elongated structures disposed between said glass panels, said elongated structures extending peripherally adjacent said peripheral edges of said panels and peripherally about an outer periphery of said spacer;

a door frame extending peripherally about said elongated structures; and

sealant disposed between said panels, said sealant holding together said panels, said spacer, said elongated structures, and said door frame, said door frame having elongated extensions extending inwardly into said sealant adjacent said elongate structures.

2. The display door of claim 1 wherein said structures have bumper means attached thereto for reducing heat cold transfer between said panels.

3. The display door of claim 1 wherein said door frame engages said peripheral edges of said panels and covers a peripheral inside surface of said inside panel.

4. The display door of claim 1 wherein said hollow spacer is filled with a desiccant.

5. The display door of claim 1 further comprising rubber insulators disposed between said spacer and said panels.

6. The display door of claim 1 wherein said sealant is a thermal setting sealant.

7. The display door of claim 1 wherein said bumper means are made out of rubber.

8. A refrigerator display door comprising:

an outside glass panel, a middle glass panel and an inside glass panel;

a spacer disposed between said outside and middle glass panels;

a spacer disposed between said middle and inside glass panels;

elongated structures disposed between said inside and outside panels and extending peripherally adjacent peripheral edges of said inside and outside panels and peripherally about outside peripheries of said spacers;

a door frame extending peripherally about said elongated structures; and

sealant disposed between said inside and outside panels, said sealant holding together said spacers, said elongated structures, said inside, middle and outside panels, and said door frame, said door frame having elongated extensions extending inwardly into said sealant adjacent said elongated structures.

9. The display door of claim 8 wherein said door frame engages said peripheral edges of said inside and outside panels and covers a peripheral inside surface of said inside panel.

10. The display door of claim 8 wherein said hollow spacers are filled with a desiccant.

11. The display door of claim 8 further comprising rubber insulators disposed between said spacers and said panels.

12. The display door of claim 8 wherein said sealant is a thermal setting sealant.

13. The display door of claim 8 further comprising bumper means attached to said structures for reducing cold transfer between said inside and outside panels.

14. A refrigerator display door comprising:

an outside glass panel and an inside glass panel;

a spacer disposed between said glass panels, said spacer extending peripherally adjacent peripheral edges of said panels;

elongated structures disposed between said glass panels;

bumpers attached to each of said structures in order to reduce heat transfer between said inside and outside panels;

a door frame extending peripherally about said elongated structures; and

sealant disposed between said panels, said sealant holding together said panels, spacer, elongated structures, and door frame, said door frame having elongated extensions extending inwardly into said sealant adjacent said elongated structures.

15. The display door of claim 14 wherein said door frame engages said peripheral edges of said panels and covers a peripheral inside surface of said inside panel.

16. The display door of claim 14 wherein said hollow spacer is filled with a desiccant.

17. The display door of claim 14 further comprising rubber insulators disposed between said spacer and said panels.

18. The display door of claim 14 wherein said sealant is a thermal setting sealant.

19. The display door of claim 14 further comprising flexible extension means for cushioning said door frame against said panels.

20. A swing door assembly, comprising:

first and second door panels spaced apart to provide a space therebetween, said panels have panel edges;

a structural member positioned between said panels proximate said edges;

pads between the structural member and the panels such that the structural member extends less than the entire thickness of the space between the panels;

swinging means for mounting said panels for swinging movement;

wherein said structural member in transverse cross-section has a maximum dimension, the maximum dimension being less than the distance between said panels. 21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said structural member includes side portions facing respective adjacent said panels and convergent portions converging towards one another. 22. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the pads are resilient plastic pads having a low thermal conductivity. 23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the pads are neoprene. 24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the pads are vinyl. 25. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the structural frame member has a maximum outer cross-sectional dimension and the dimension is less than the distance between the panels. 26. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising sealant between said panels. 27. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the structural member comprises a holding member and said swinging means includes a torque rod disposed in said

holding member. 28. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said pads include bumpers attached directly to side portions of said structural member, said side portions extending a first distance in a direction parallel to said panels, and convergent portions which extend a second distance in a direction parallel to the panels, said second distance being greater than said first distance. 29. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said structural member has a maximum cross-sectional distance and the maximum cross-sectional distance is less than the distance between said panels. 30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the maximum cross-sectional distance is on a cross-section diagonal. 31. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said structural member has an inwardly facing portion and a rod receiving portion secured thereto. 32. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising a third panel thereto disposed between said first and second panels, a first spacer spacing said first and third panels apart, and a second spacer spacing said second and third panels apart. 33. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising a door frame having a peripheral extension which secures said door frame to said door. 34. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising sealant

between said structural member and one panel. 35. A door assembly for use as a swing door, the assembly comprising:

at least two door panels having edges and being spaced apart to provide an air space between the panels;

`an elongate structural member positioned at least partly between the panels near the respective edges of at least one side of the panels, the structural member having side portions facing a respective adjacent panel;

`bumpers composed of a resilient material secured to each side portion of the structural member, the bumpers having a thickness between the structural member and the panel and a width perpendicular to the thickness, wherein the thickness is approximately equal to the width; and

`swing elements positioned with respect to the structural member so as to permit swinging movement of the door. 36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the structural member includes a groove and wherein the bumpers elements engage the groove in the structural member. 37. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said bumpers have rounded tip surface. 38. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said bumpers extend into said structural member a distance as great as the distance said structural member is spaced from one of said panels. 39. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said structural member includes an outermost edge adjacent but separate from one of said panels and wherein at least one of said bumpers which covers said outermost edge. 40. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said bumpers interengage each said side portion of the structural member and are positioned at least partly between said structural member and a respective

panel. 41. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said bumpers include mounting portions which extend into said structural member. 42. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said structural member includes a groove, said bumpers include an extension, and said extension extends into said groove. 43. The assembly of claim 35 wherein said bumpers are formed with a semi-circular

cross-section. 44. A swing door assembly, comprising:

first and second door panels having door panel edges, said door panels being spaced apart to provide a space therebetween;

a structural member positioned at least partly between said panels proximate the respective said edges of at least one side of said panels;

plastic pads between said structural member and said panels;

wherein said structural member has side portions facing a respective adjacent said panel and converging portions converging toward each other and away from said respective adjacent panels such that twisting of said structural member between said panels does not result in said structural member contacting either of said panels; and

at least one swing element positioned coaxially with respect to said structural member and permitting swinging movement of said panels. 45. The assembly of claim 51 wherein said plastic pads comprise bumpers attached to said side portions and said converging

portions are longer than said side portions. 46. The assembly of claim 44 wherein said structural member has a maximum cross-sectional dimension and said panels are spaced apart a distance greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension such that said structural member when twisted remains spaced from both said panels. 47. The assembly of claim 44 further comprising sealant between said panels. 48. The assembly of claim 54 wherein one portion of said sealant is between said first panel and said structural member and another portion of said sealant is between said second panel and said structural member. 49. A swing door assembly, comprising:

first and second door panels spaced apart to provide a space therebetween, said panels having panel edges;

a structural member positioned between said panels proximate said edges;

elastic members disposed between said panels and said structural member and spacing said structural member from both said panels; and

swinging means for mounting said panels for swinging movement;

wherein said structural member in transverse cross-section has a maximum dimension, the maximum dimension being less than the distance between said panels such that said structural member is twisted about its longitudinal axis impacts neither of said panels. 50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member comprises a holding member and said swinging means includes a torque rod disposed in said holding member. 51. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member includes side portions facing respective adjacent said panels and said portions converging towards one another relative to said panel edges in an outboard direction. 52. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising at least one spacer disposed inboard of said structural member and between said panels so as to space said panels apart.

53. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member has an inwardly facing portion and a rod receiving portion secured thereto. 54. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member includes an inwardly facing portion having a first side facing said first panel and a second side facing said second panel, said elastic members include first and second bumpers, said first bumper extends into said first side and engages said first panel, said second bumper extends into said second side and engages said second panel, and said first and second bumpers reduce torsional stresses exerted on said panels from said structural member. 55. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising sealant between said panels. 56. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member has an inwardly facing portion generally perpendicular to said panels, said inwardly facing portion having an undulating surface associated therewith interengaging said sealant. 57. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member has a first undulating surface which said sealant interengages and a second undulating surface which said sealant interengages. 58. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member includes a first groove facing said first panel and a second groove facing said second panel, and said elastic members include a first bumper secured in said first groove and contacting said first panel and a second bumper secured in said second groove and contacting said second panel. 59. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising a third panel disposed between said first and second panels, a first spacer spacing said first and third panels apart, and a second

spacer spacing said second and third panels apart. 60. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising a door frame with a portion positioned at said panel edges, said door frame having a peripheral extension which secures said door frame to said door. 61. The assembly of claim 60 further comprising sealant between said structural member and one panel and said extension. 62. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said structural member has a slot and an extension which extends into said slot. 63. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said elastic members are made of rubber. 64. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said elastic members are made of plastic.